Career and Education Opportunities for Mental Health Counselors in South Carolina

South Carolina has a population of 4,561,242, which has grown by 13.69% in the last 10 years. Nicknamed the "Palmetto State," South Carolina's capital and biggest city is Columbia.

Currently, 350 people work as mental health counselors in South Carolina. This is expected to grow by 7% to about 370 people by 2016. This is not quite as good as the national trend for mental health counselors, which sees this job pool growing by about 24.0% over the next eight years. In general, mental health counselors counsel with emphasis on prevention.

Mental health counselors earn approximately $17 per hour or $35,870 annually on average in South Carolina. Nationally they average about $17 per hour or $36,810 yearly. Mental health counselors earn less than people working in the category of Counseling and Therapy generally in South Carolina and less than people in the Counseling and Therapy category nationally. People working as mental health counselors can fill a number of jobs, such as: crisis intervention therapist, mental health program specialist, and correctional caseworker.

In 2008, there were a total of 2,579,280 jobs in South Carolina. The average annual income was $32,495 in 2008, up from $31,925 the previous year. The unemployment rate in South Carolina was 11.7% in 2009, which has grown by 4.8% since the previous year. About 20.4% of South Carolina residents have college degrees, which is lower than the national average.

The top industries in South Carolina include engine, turbine, and power transmission equipment manufacturing, textile mills, and plastics products manufacturing. Notable tourist destinations include the Columbia Museum of Art, the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter, and the Edventure.

CITIES WITH Mental Health Counselor OPPORTUNITIES IN South Carolina

JOB DESCRIPTION: Mental Health Counselor

Mental Health Counselor video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, mental health counselors counsel with emphasis on prevention. They also work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental health.

Every day, mental health counselors are expected to be able to piece together evidence to, in some sense, diagnose what is going on in a situation. They need to evaluate problems as they arise. It is also important that they listen to and understand others in meetings.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in South Carolina include:

Career Advisor. Counsel individuals and provide group educational and vocational guidance services.

Child and Family Services Worker. Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist single parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers on how to deal with problem children.

Health Education Specialist. Promote, maintain, and improve individual and community health by assisting individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors. Collect and analyze data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies and environments. May also serve as a resource to assist individuals, other professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs.

Marriage and Family Therapist. Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of professional services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.

Substance Abuse Specialist. Counsel and advise individuals with alcohol, tobacco, or other problems, such as gambling and eating disorders. May counsel individuals, families, or groups or engage in prevention programs.

LOCATION INFORMATION: South Carolina

South Carolina photo by Pollinator

South Carolina has a population of 4,561,242, which has grown by 13.69% over the past 10 years. Nicknamed the "Palmetto State," South Carolina's capital and biggest city is Columbia. In 2008, there were a total of 2,579,280 jobs in South Carolina. The average annual income was $32,495 in 2008, up from $31,925 the preceding year. The unemployment rate in South Carolina was 11.7% in 2009, which has grown by 4.8% since the previous year. Approximately 20.4% of South Carolina residents have college degrees, which is lower than the national average.

The top industries in South Carolina include engine, turbine, and power transmission equipment manufacturing, textile mills, and plastics products manufacturing. Notable tourist attractions include the Edventure, the University of South Carolina, and the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter.